Wakuraba suddenly felt his vision blur—his eyes were covered by a strange flower pattern, and the road ahead vanished in a haze.
A sweet fragrance wafted through the air.
A voice, soft and entrancing, whispered in his mind:
[Blood Demon Art: Bewildering Aroma of Daylight]
His concentration wavered, his thoughts scattering like falling petals. For an instant, his mind went blank.
No… something's wrong with this scent!
Wakuraba forced himself to hold his breath, but by then he realized he had already stopped moving. A chill tightened in his chest.
Swish!
[Breath of the Sun – Second Form: Clear Blue Sky]
A blade engulfed in blazing flames cut through the air. In the next instant, Wakuraba's head flew skyward.
Hayashi halted, sheathing his Nichirin blade. His gaze, however, shifted to the corner of the street ahead.
There, standing quietly, was a woman in a deep violet kimono, a wide beige obi tied gracefully at her waist. Her black hair was gathered into a low bun, and her gentle eyes, veiled in lavender mist, watched him calmly.
Tamayo.
At her side stood a boy in a white kimono. He stole glances at her again and again, his thoughts practically audible to Hayashi's sharpened senses:
"Lady Tamayo is so beautiful…"
"Even when she just used her Blood Demon Art, she's still so beautiful!"
Tamayo's own gaze fell on Hayashi. Slowly, disbelief colored her expression.
That face…!
No—it's almost identical to him… Yoriichi Tsugikuni!
Memories surged back to her: three hundred years ago, when that man, Yoriichi, had struck down Muzan Kibutsuji. The invincible demon lord, whom she once thought untouchable, had been reduced to over 1,800 fragments, fleeing in terror. And yet Yoriichi had destroyed more than 1,500 pieces before Muzan managed to scatter.
It was in that moment, when Muzan lay grievously wounded, that Tamayo herself had broken free from his control. She still recalled clutching her head, screaming at the sight of Muzan writhing:
"Why won't you just die, Muzan Kibutsuji?!"
Afterward, she had spoken at length with Yoriichi, sharing everything she knew about Muzan, and forging an unlikely cooperation with him—one that allowed her to pursue her research.
Now, facing Hayashi, who bore Yoriichi's very image, she couldn't help but smile faintly, a complex mix of awe and sorrow on her lips.
"Hello," she whispered. "What should I call you now?"
Hayashi returned her gaze with a calm smile.
"Just call me Yoriichi, Lady Tamayo."
Her expression deepened, words unsaid. Instead, she made a gentle gesture of invitation.
"This is not the place to talk. Would you follow me to my home?"
Hayashi nodded without hesitation.
But Yushiro's eyes widened in alarm.
"Wait—you're bringing this guy into our house?!"
"How can you allow that?!"
"And not just him—he's got two more following behind!"
Of course, Yushiro's glare was fixed on Sanemi Shinazugawa and Rengoku Kyojuro, walking silently at Hayashi's back.
Because Ubuyashiki Kagaya had not explained the details of the mission to them, and Hayashi had remained silent along the way, the others only knew that his purpose in coming to Asakusa, Tokyo, was to meet a very special person.
But none of them expected that this "special person" was not a human at all—but a demon!
Although they did not immediately draw their blades upon seeing Tamayo and Yushiro, they also did not sheath them, their eyes fixed warily on the two.
Hayashi recalled the words Ubuyashiki had left him: "At critical moments, trust your own judgment."
He stepped forward and said in a deep voice:
"Please stay where you are. I have something to discuss with this lady."
Hearing this, Sanemi Shinazugawa's eyes widened.
"Hey! That's a demon! You can't be serious—"
But Rengoku Kyojuro cut in cheerfully, his booming voice carrying confidence:
"Understood, Yoriichi san!"
"Before we departed, the lord instructed us to obey you at critical moments. If this is your judgment, then we will follow it!"
Then, with a fiery grin, he added:
"But Yoriichi san, I must remind you! Even a swordsman as powerful as yourself should be cautious when facing such a beautiful woman! We will also summon the Kakushi to handle the aftermath!"
Hayashi rubbed his ears slightly, almost wincing.
That voice was loud enough to shake one's eardrums—and somehow, in one breath, Rengoku managed to both praise and warn him.
As expected of Rengoku Kyojuro—every sentence must end with an exclamation mark.
After appeasing the two Pillars, Hayashi prepared to follow Lady Tamayo to her residence. Yet another obstacle arose.
"No! Lady Tamayo, absolutely not!"
Yushiro stepped forward, his eyes blazing as he glared at Hayashi. His arms trembled slightly, not out of fear but out of determination. He had seen it with his own eyes—this man was capable of cutting down a Lower Moon with a single blow!
To allow such a dangerous swordsman into the same room as the beautiful Lady Tamayo?
Unthinkable!
Hayashi's gaze shifted toward Yushiro, and once again he "heard" the boy's heart screaming:
"This striped lunatic is nothing but a violent brute!"
"It's far too dangerous to let him near Lady Tamayo!"
"I must protect her, no matter what!"
"Ah—Lady Tamayo looked at me! She's so beautiful…!"
Lady Tamayo's soft smile cut through his inner panic.
"Do not worry, Yushiro."
From within her robes, she withdrew a small wooden box and opened it, revealing several syringes.
Her voice was calm, soothing, yet firm:
"I have a task only you can accomplish. Two of the Twelve Kizuki have fallen tonight. Their blood is invaluable."
"You must collect it before their bodies fully disintegrate."
Hearing this, Yushiro's panic turned instantly to eagerness.
"No problem! Leave it to me!"
As Yushiro dashed off, Lady Tamayo beckoned Hayashi and led him into a narrow alley.
At the end of the path, she reached toward what appeared to be a solid wall. Her hand passed through it effortlessly.
Even though Hayashi had suspected it, seeing it with his own eyes still left him surprised.
Stepping through the illusion, a grand hidden mansion revealed itself before him, a sanctuary untouched by the bustling city.
There, Lady Tamayo suddenly stopped. Her gaze turned sharp, searching his face.
"Yoriichi san… are you truly him?"